Warp knitting machine for pile fabrics

ABSTRACT

In a warp knitting machine for making pile fabrics, the two groups of first guide bars supplying yarn to knitting needles on two needle bars for respectively knitting ground fabrics on the needles perform the usual shogging motions, but do not rock, the necessary relative movement of yarn guides and knitting needles transverse to the needle bar elongation being provided by oscillation of the needle bars. One or more second guide bars arranged between the groups of first guide bar are rocked in the usual manner to connect the two ground fabrics by means of pile loops which are later cut to separate two pile fabrics.

0 United States Patent [151 3,646,782 Kohl Mar. 7 1972 [54] WARP KNITTING MACHINE FOR PILE 2,650,486 9/1953 Hartung ..66/86 2 2 252 25:22; "'22:" 64, wa 86 1 Invenwfl Karl Kohl, Chlorodonstrass 10, 6053 3,491,558 1/1970 Kohl ..60/87 Obertshause n, near Offenbach am Main, Germany Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum 221 Filed: 0a. 28, 1970 Kelma" 211 Appl. No.: 84,862 57 ABSTRACT In a warp knitting machine for making pile fabrics, the two F gn App i i Pri ri y Dam groups of first guide bars supplying yam to knitting needles on two needle bars for respectively knitting ground fabrics on the Nov. 1,1969 Japan ..44/8803l needles perform the usual shogging motions but do no! rock the necessary relative movement of yarn guides and knitting needles transverse to the needle bar elongation being provided [58] Field o'fsemch 66/86 87 by oscillation of the needle bars. One or more second guide has arranged between the groups 0mm guide bar are rocked [56] References Cited in the usual manner to connect the two ground fabrics by means of pile loops which are later cut to separate two pile UNITED STATES PATENTS fabrics- Hannay ..66/86 3Claims,2l)rawingFigures PATENTEDMAR 7 1972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

KIN! L K0!!! 70m KM PATENTEDM 7 I972 3.646.782

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. 11mm KOIIL BY KIA/bi K WARP KNITTING MACHINE FOR PILE FABRICS This invention relates to warp knitting machines, and particularly to warp knitting machines for making pile fabrics.

it is known to knit pile fabrics on warp knitting machines having two needle bars. Two separate ground fabrics are knitted on the needles of the two bars by means of respective separate groups of guide bars, and other guide bars, associated with both needle bars connect the two ground fabrics by means of pile yarns which are later cut to separate two pile fabrics.

All guide bars in the known machines operating in the manner described are mounted on a common bracket for longitudinal or shogging motion, and the bracket is swung about an axis parallel to the needle bars and guide bars for moving the yarn guides between the knitting needles. The swinging movement of the yarn guides required for knitting the ground fabrics is normally quite short, and the guide bars carrying the yarn guides for the pile yarns thus can perform only relatively short swinging movements so that the length of the pile threads from one ground fabric to the other and the length of the nap on the finished fabrics are correspondingly limited. If it is desired to produce pile fabric having long piles on the known machines, it is necessary to increase the spacing of the needle bars and the angular stroke of the yarn guides for the pile yarns. The yarn guides for the ground fabrics unnecessarily participate in this long rocking or swinging movement. The output of the machine is decreased, and the yarn is subjected to unnecessary friction and may be weakened thereby.

The primary object of the instant invention is the provision of a warp knitting machine for pile fabric which is free from the inherent shortcomings of the equipment available heretofore.

According to the present invention, the needle bars carrying the knitting needles and the trick plates are oscillated transversely of their direction of elongation while the needles perform their usual up-and-down movement on each needle bar. The yarn guides for the ground fabrics are mounted on guide bars which are secured against movement in the direction of needle bar oscillation. Only the guide bar or guide bars for the yarn guides carrying the pile yarn are rocked in the direction of needle oscillation. The transverse movements of the needle bars and of the guide bar or bars for the pile yarn are synchronized by a common drive.

The relatively short transverse movement necessary for producing the ground fabrics is thus performed by the needle bars. It is possible, therefore, to produce pile fabrics having long pile yarns without unduly restricting the output of the knitting machine and without subjecting the yarn of the ground fabrics to the friction inherent in long yarn guide strokes.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a warp knitting machine of the invention in fragmentary side elevational section; and

F IG. 2 shows a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on a larger scale.

The drawing shows only as much of an otherwise conventional Raschel knitting machine as is necessary for an understanding of this invention. As is shown in FIG. 1, the machine is equipped with two sets 1,1 of knitting implements for respective ground fabrics which are approximately symmetrically arranged relative to an upright median plane 11 parallel to the two rows of knitting needles 2,2, only one needle of each row being visible. The latch needles 2,2 cooperate with trick plates 3 in the usual manner and are separated by a relatively wide gap 4. As will presently become apparent, the needles 2,2 and trick plates 3 oscillate during normal knitting in the direction of the double arrow 5.

Ground fabric 8,8 is knitted on each needle row 2,2 by means of respective pairs of yarn guides 6,6 providing yarn ing. The pattern mechanism which causes movement of all illustrated yarn guides longitudinally of the associated guide bars is conventional, and has not been shown.

Pile yarn 9 is carried back and forth between the two sets 1, by two yarn guides 10 which perform a swinging movement as indicated by the arrow 5 together with the supporting guide bar not provided with separate reference numerals.

As is conventional, the needles 2,2 are mounted on needle bars 12 in leads l8, and the needle bars 12 are oscillated by a drive mechanism partly received in the casing of the knitting machine. A common electric motor, not shown, rotates two cam shafts l4a,l4b at the same speed. Each shaft 1411,14!) carries a group of axially spaced eccentric cams, only the first cam 15a,15b of each group being visible in the drawing. Cam followers 16 engage the cams l5a,l5b and are oscillated by the engaged cams about shafts fixed on the casing 13.

A push rod 17 is hingedly fastened to each arm 16 and to the associated needle bar 12, as is better seen in FIG. 2. Rods 19 depending from the needle bar 12 are guided for movement in the direction of knitting needle elongation in ball bearings 20 mounted in recesses 21 of guide members 22. The latter are fixedly fastened on shafts 23 which are parallel to the needle bars 12. A lug 25 depending from the needle bar 12 carries a transverse pin 25 which engages an eye 26 on the push rod 17. When the cams 151,15b rotate, the rods 19 move up and down in the recesses 21 to raise and lower the needles 2,2 in the usual manner.

Reverting now to FIG. 1, it is seen that the trick plates 3 are fixedly fastened to the shafts 23 by means of brackets. Each shaft 23 furthermore carries radial arms 27 connected by respective push rods 28 to cam follower arms 29 which cooperate with cams on the shafts 14a,l4b concealed in the drawing by the cams l5a,l5b. The arms 27 oscillate the shafts 23, and thereby the needle bars 12 with the needles 2,2 and the trick plates 3 during rotation of the shafts l4a,l4b.

Another cam follower arm 30 cooperates with yet another concealed cam on the shaft 14a and is connected by a push rod 31 to a rocker arm 32 on a rocker shaft 33 joumaled in the top part 36 of the machine frame. A bracket 34 on the shaft 33 carries the yarn guides 10 and their guide bars. Brackets 35 fastened to the frame portion 36 prevent transverse movement of the guide bars carrying the yarn guides 6,6 while permitting shogging motion.

When the nonillustrated drive motor turns the cam shafts l4a,14b, the needles 2,2 are moved up and down by the push rods 17 while they are swung transversely to the direction of needle bar elongation by the push rods 28. The yarn guides 6.6 are secured by the brackets 35 against movement in the direction 5 of needle bar oscillation while the yarn guides 10 and the associated guide bars are rocked by the push rod 28. The common drive motor and the shafts l4a,l4b coupled to the shaft operate the oscillating and rocking mechanisms in timed sequence and in proper rhythm with the knitting of the pile fabric, an operation known in itself and not requiring further explanation.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modification of the example of the invention chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a warp knitting machine for making pile fabric, the machine having two elongated needle bars, respective first guide bars associated with said needle bars for knitting a ground fabric on knitting needles on each needle bar from yarn fed by yarn guides on said guide bars, and at least one second guide bar associated with both needle bars and carrying yam guides for connecting said ground fabrics by means of pile yarns, the ground fabrics and associated portions of said rocking means in timed sequence.

2. in a machine as set forth in claim 1, means for raising and lowering knitting needles on each of said needle bars in timed sequence with the operation of said oscillating means and said rocking means.

3. [n a machine as set forth in claim 1, said first guide bars constituting two groups of guide bars spaced in the direction of needle bar oscillation, said second guide bar being interposed between said two groups. 

1. In a warp knitting machine for making pile fabric, the machine having two elongated needle bars, respective first guide bars associated with said needle bars for knitting a ground fabric on knitting needles on each needle bar from yarn fed by yarn guides on said guide bars, and at least one second guide bar associated with both needle bars and carrying yarn guides for connecting said ground fabrics by means of pile yarns, the ground fabrics and associated portions of said pile yarns constituting respective pile fabrics when said pile yarns are cut between said ground fabrics, the improvement which comprises: a. oscillating means for oscillating said needle bars transversely of the direction of elongation thereof; b. securing means securing said first guide bars against movement in the direction of needle bar oscillation; c. rocking means for rocking said second guide bar in said direction of oscillation; and d. drive means for operating said oscillating means and said rocking means in timed sequence.
 2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, means for raising and lowering knitting needles on each of said needle bars in timed sequence with the operation of said oscillating means and said rocking means.
 3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, said first guide bars constituting two groups of guide bars spaced in the direction of needle bar oscillation, said second guide bar being interposed between said two groups. 